1. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Fish monitoring programs and fish taxonomy in the Florida Keys
Presented by,
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

2. Finfish Research Group
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Law Enforcement
Freshwater Fisheries Management
Hunting and Game Management
Marine Fisheries Management
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Lobster
Research
Sea Turtle Research
Coral Research
Conch
Stone Crab
Fisheries Dependent Research
Finfish

3. Morphology
Main Entry: mor·phol·o·gy
Function: noun
Etymology: from morph- = shape + -ology = study
1 a : a branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of animals and plants b : the form and structure of an organism or any of its parts

4. Diversity of Fish
Over 24,600 living species of fish in 482 families and 57 orders.
Only 850 are cartilaginous leaving over 23,000 or more species of bony fish.
Range in size from a few mm to 18 m
Broken down by major habitats: 41% live in freshwater, 58% live in seawater, and 1% move between both.
perthrelocationlatestnews.wordpress.com

5. Morphology of Fish Fusiform (Streamlined)
Laterally Compressed (Flattened from side to side)
Depressed (Flattened from top to bottom)

6. Morphology of Fish
Fish with rounded and truncate caudal fins are usually strong, but slow, swimmers.
Anterior:
For eating in
the water column
Ventral:
For eating on
the bottom
Many continuously swimming fish have forked caudal fins.
Dorsal:
For eating near
the surface
Fish with lunate caudal fins tend to be the fastest fishes and maintain a rapid speed for long durations.

7. External Fish Anatomy Lateral Line Caudal Fin Dorsal Fin Premaxilla
Pelvic Fin
Opercal
Pectoral Fin
Premaxilla
Preopercal
Caudal Peduncle

8. Dichotomous Key

9. Classification of Reef Fishes
Lennaeus developed a system of classification in the 1700s that is still used today.

10. Family: Pomacanthidae
Etymology: Greek, Poma- = operculum, acanth- = spine.
Strongly compressed body
Preopercle has an obvious spine
Caudal fin rounded to strongly lunate with 15 branched rays
Typically diurnal
In shallow waters of less than 20 m deep, very seldom below 50 m; generally near coral reefs
Several species are protogynous hermaphrodites engaging in 'haremic' social system.
Three basic feeding styles: predation on sessile invertebrates, herbivory and planktivory

11. Family: Pomacanthidae
Holacanthus tricolor
Holacanthus ciliaris
Pomacanthus arcuatus
aquadaily.com

12. Family: Acanthuridae Etymology: Greek, akantha = thorn + oura = tail
Deep compressed body with the eye high on the head
Single unnotched dorsal fin with 4-9 spines and rays
Typically diurnal
Pelvic fins with 1 spine and 3 or 5 rays
A small terminal mouth with a single row of close-set teeth
Most graze on benthic algae, some feed mainly on zooplankton or detritus
Able to slash other fishes with their sharp caudal spines by a rapid side sweep of the tail

13. filaman.ifm-geomar.de/identification/speciesl
Family: Acanthuridae
Acanthurus coeruleus
Acanthurus chirurgus
Acanthurus bahianus
filaman.ifm-geomar.de/identification/speciesl
reefguide.org

14. Family: Chaetodontidae
Entomology: Greek, Chaet- = bristle, odont- = tooth
Highly compressed body.
Dorsal fin continuous, with 6-16 spines and soft rays
Caudal fin with 15 branched rays, usually rounded
Scales extend onto dorsal fins
Mouth small, terminal with a band or rows of small brushlike teeth
Typically diurnal
Many feed on a combination of coral polyps or jellyfish tentacles, small invertebrates, fish eggs, and filamentous algae while others are planktivores
Most species occur as heterosexual pairs

15. Family: Chaetodontidae
Chaetodon capistratus
Chaetodon ocellatus
Chaetodon ocellatus
reefguide.org/carib/reefbutterflyfish

16. Etymology: French, carangue = name of fish given in Caribe
Family: Carangidae
Etymology: French, carangue = name of fish given in Caribe
Body generally compressed though some are fusiform
Scales along lateral line often modified into spiny scutes
Large juveniles and adults with 2 dorsal fins
Anterior dorsal fin with 3-9 spines; the second having 1 spine and usually soft rays
Widely forked caudal fin
Caudal peduncle slender
Fast swimming predators of the waters above the reef and in the open sea
Some root in sand for invertebrates and fishes

17. Family: Carangidae Caranx crysos Seriola dumerili Caranx ruber
Caranx ruber
fishindex.blogspot.com

18. Etymology: Latin, serranus = derived from saw, fish saw
Family: Serranidae
Etymology: Latin, serranus = derived from saw, fish saw
Operculum bearing 3 spines
Lateral line complete and continuous, not reaching onto caudal fin
Dorsal fin may be notched, with 7-12 spines
Caudal fin usually rounded, truncate, or lunate; rarely forked
One spine on pelvic fin; soft rays 5
Most are protogynous hermaphrodites,they change sex from females to a few dominant males.
Attain up to 3 m maximum length and weights of up to 400 kg
Bottom-dwelling predators that feed on crustaceans and fishes

19. Family: Serranidae Epinephelus morio Mycteroperca bonaci
Epinephelus striatus
Kirk Kilfoyle

20. Etymology: Latin, sacrus = a fish described by ancient writers
Family: Scaridae
Etymology: Latin, sacrus = a fish described by ancient writers
Jaw teeth fused
Spines in dorsal fin 9; soft rays 10
One spine in pelvic; soft rays 5
Caudal fin with 11 branched rays
Lateral line can be interrupted with usually scales
Herbivorous, usually scraping algae from dead coral substrates. Bits of rock eaten with the algae are crushed into sand
Some species rest enveloped in their mucus
Sex change is a common occurrence, with an initial phase of both males and females, and the latter changing into a brilliantly colored male terminal phase

21. Family: Scaridae Sparisoma viride Scarus coeruleus Scarus iserti
reefguide.org

22. Etymology: Latin, labrum = lip or edge
Family: Labridae
Etymology: Latin, labrum = lip or edge
Most jaw teeth with gaps between them; teeth usually jutting outward
Dorsal fin 8-21 spines (usually less than15), 6-21 soft rays
Lateral line interrupted or continuous.
Most species are sand burrowers; carnivores on benthic invertebrates; also planktivores, and some small species remove parasites from larger fishes
Most species change color and sex with growth, from an initial phase of both males and females, the latter able to change sex into an often brilliantly colored terminal male phase

23. Family: Labridae Thalassoma bifasciatum Halichoeres garnoti
Halichoeres maculipinna
secamarinelife.com.au

24. Family: Pomacentridae
Etymology: Poma- = opercle, centron = spine, (refers to pointed margin of opercle)
Body usually deep and compressed
Small mouth
Incomplete and interrupted lateral line
Many species are highly territorial herbivores, omnivores, or planktivores.
Lay elliptical demersal eggs that are guarded by the males
Included in this family are the anemonefishes

25. Family: Pomacentridae
Stegastes variabilis
Abudefduf saxatilis
Stegastes planifrons
reefguide.org
southpadreaquarium.com

26. Etymology: Greek - haimalios = bloody
Family: Haemulidae
Etymology: Greek - haimalios = bloody
Dorsal fin continuous, 9-14 spines, soft rays
Small mouth with thick lips
Some species make grunting noises by grinding their teeth
Adults are typically inactive during day when they shelter near or under ledges; they disperse to feed on benthic invertebrates at night

27. Haemulon flavolineatum
Family: Haemulidae
Haemulon plumierii
Haemulon flavolineatum
Haemulon sciurus
netisbeautiful.com

28. Etymology: Malay, ikan lutjan, name of a fish
Family: Lutjanidae
Etymology: Malay, ikan lutjan, name of a fish
Dorsal fin continuous or slightly notched
Spines in dorsal fin 10-12; soft rays 10-17
Pelvic fins originating just behind pectoral base
Mouth terminal, Jaws bearing enlarged canine teeth
To about 1 m maximum length
Most species are predators of crustaceans and fishes, several are planktivores
Generally demersal, down to depths of about 450 m

29. Family: Lutjanidae Lutjanus jocu Lutjanus analis Lutjanus apodus
Ocyurus chrysurus
Ocyurus chrysurus

30. Why do we identify fish? Indices of relative abundance by species
Habitat Associations
Species distributions
Life history
Length frequency distributions
Ecosystem modeling
For Stock assessment

31. ~ 53% Unknown
You are here

32. Reef Visual Census Divers are used to visit specific area
and conduct a count of the species of fish seen there.

33. Reef Visual Census Methodology
and >10 minute count
5 minute count
15 m

34. Study Area

35. Sampling Effort Results
Year
Total Surveys
FWC Surveys
% Survey Effort (FWC)
Survey Days (NOAA-NPS)
Survey Days (FWC)
Surveys per Day (FWC)
Fish Abundance (All)
Fish Abundance (FWC)
% Abundance Effort (FWC)
2008
1,543
607
39% 37 33
4.6
287,197
92,316
32%
2009
2,041
912
45% 43 42
5.4
478,568
221,760
46%
2010
1,436
551
38% 30 28
5.7
255,622
93,455
37%
Total
5,020
2,070
41%
110
103
1,021,387
407,531
Number of Surveys per diver/ Year
Sampling Days per diver/ Year
Summary of effort and catch data for Florida Keys visual survey sampling,

36. Quiz Time What is it called when a fish is active during the day?
What does it mean if a fish is a planktivore?
What does the term “morphology” mean?
What does protogynous hermaphrodite mean in regards to fish?
What does a scientist do with a dichotomous key?

37. Thank you
Any Questions?

38. Describe the fish in front of you using terms you learned today.
Activity Time!!!!
Describe the fish in front of you
using terms you learned today.